Jan.

10

The World of Alberto Pinto

Here’s a peek inside French interior designer Alberto Pinto’s apartment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil courtesy of Architectural Digest. It’s one thing to study a designer’s work, but I am always most interested to see how designers live. While Mr. Pinto is known for designing for the world’s creme de la creme, I found his apartment the epitome of global chic, but also approachable and livable. I know most of us can’t afford to live as lavishly, but we can virtually walk through the apartment and borrow ideas to create elements of lavishness in our own homes. So, let’s get started…

On one end of his living room, Mr. Pinto used a bold painting by Marc Quinn as a focal point, but the accents were classic animal print pillows recycled from coats which he mixed with cream sofas and dark woods. Notice the groupings of books and candlesticks on the coffee table.

On the other end of the living room, Mr. Pinto used Nancy Graves artwork as a focal point and used pops of orange and red from the painting on pillows and in the coffee table choice to pull the room together. Notice the two sets of chairs used to create conversational areas for guests.

I’m not a fan of the term “tablescape”, but it’s appropriate here to describe the collected pieces of found objects and antiques from Mr. Pinto’s travels and shows us how we can “display” our favorite things.

Do you see the consistent theme developing throughout the apartment with the use of oversized, dramatic artwork? Here a Marcus Coelho Benjamin piece over the small bar mixes with antique porcelain figures, modern glassware and silverware.

In the TV room, more orange pillows made from Indian fabrics and a great Romulus mirror which continues the color scheme from the living room where the Nancy Graves artwork was a focal point.

In the dining room, Mr. Pinto used screens to conceal his china storage, but with a dramatic twist. Can you guess? The screens are covered with butterfly wings! He also painted the dining table white and carried the animal print from the living room into the space with cheetah print fabric on his antique Robsjohn-Gibbings chairs.

The bedroom is a rather understated black and white which I like because you want to create a simple, calm and luxurious environment in the bedroom, but Mr. Pinto added a bit of drama with a gorgeous coverlet.

A peek inside Mr. Pinto’s closet reveals bleached-mahogany cabinets and an Italian chair covered in faux leather. So, if you can’t afford real leather in your own home, it’s perfectly fine to seek out a great quality faux because even the world’s best designers are doing it.

A desk in his closet is most unusual, but again it suggests that we should do the unexpected and utilize space wherever we have it. I love the mix of black and white photography, vintage lamp shades and industrial style desk with a striped black and white rug.

So many people forget to add a bit of art in the bathroom and as you can see here art from Marc Quinn adds that extra something and why not use less conventional sconces like these from Herve van der Straeten.

In a hallway outside a guest room, Mr. Pinto “framed” the entrance with ebonized bookcases and oversized deer candleholders.

In the guest room, an antique red lacquered secretary makes a dramatic statement along with a suzani coverlet on the bed with a yellow and white headboard.